Convertible table



April l2, 1966 M. Fox 3,245,366

CONVERTIBLE TABLE Filed Dec. 28, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet Fl El FIEE April 12, 1966 M. Fox

CONVERTIBLE TABLE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 TINHF llllll @-mfl Filed Dec. 28, 1964 April 12, 1966 M. FOX

CONVERTIBLE TABLE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 28, 1964f United States Patent Office 3,245,366 CONVERTIBLE TABLE Martin Fox, Chicago, Ill., assignor to The Seng Company, a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 28, 1964, Ser. No. 421,484 4 Claims. (Cl. 10S-145) This invention relates to a convertible table having a top member which is movable between a relatively low, compact position and an elevated position, and to mechanism for movably mounting the top of such a table on its base.

There is a need, especially in compact living quarters such as eiiciency or studio apartments, for a table the top of which may be readily moved from a compact, low position where the table serves one purpose, to an elevated position in which the table serves a different purpose. Such `a table might serve as a coffee or cocktail table in the compact position or as a dining table in the elevated position. In a recreation room the table could be a coffee or cocktail table in the compact position, or a card or game table in the elevated position. Since dining tables are commonly about two inches higher than card tables, the present device preferably has two different elevated positions.

The modern furniture industry is so specialized that few furniture manufacturers produce the mechanical parts for convertible pieces. The need is for mechanisms that can be produced by a company which supplies them to the furniture industry; and they must be so organized that a furniture manufacturer can build a convertible unit using a wholly prefabricated mechanism which may be assembled with the other components of the furniture by moderately skilled workers using templates or assembly jigs.

It is also apparent that any such mechanism must be inexpensive to build, so that a piece of convertible furniture may be sold to the public at a price which is not substantially greater than that of a single purpose piece.

Likewise, any mechanism must be so arranged that it does not place restrictions on furniture styling. For example, mechanism for converting a table from coffee table height to card table height or dining table height must be such that a single mechanism may be incorporated into tables of many different styles-whether with convex legs, center pedestals or separate end pedestals. Preferably they may also be used without change in tables which may be expanded, as by the use of drop leaves, insert leaves, or the like.

The foregoing criteria make it immediately apparent that a convertible table mechanism must be located entirely between a fixed base and an adjustable top, with no parts that extend below the base. This eliminates all such devices as telescoping legs and jacks, which can not be prefabricated assemblies fastened easily to furniture components, which are expensive to manufacture, which place severe restrictions on styling, and which are clumsy and diicult .to convert.

Accordingly, the principal purpose of the present invention is t provide a convertible table mechanism which meets the needs of the furniture industry, is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and extremely easy yto operate.

An object of the present invention is to provide a convertible table with a top member which is readily movable in a generally horizontally plane between a compact position and an elevated position spaced thereabove; or preferably two elevated positions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a convertible table as described in the preceding paragraph with novel linkage means supporting the top member for movement between the compact and elevated positions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a convertible table as described above with means for positively stabilizing the top member in both the compact and the elevated positions.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a convertible table as described in the preceding paragraph with a novel spring biasing arrangement which urges the top member toward the elevated position so as to obviate the necessity of an individual manually lifting the top member to the elevated position.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a convertible table `as described above with novel means for positively locking the top member in the elevated position.

A still further object of the invention is to provide -a convertible table as described in the preceding paragraph wherein lthe locking means may be released by merely lifting upwardly at one side of the top member.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a convertible table as described above wherein the top member may be moved from the elevated position to the compact position by manually depressing it.

A further object of the invention is to provide a convertible table as described above with novel means for retaining the top member in the compact position, but which readily allows the top member to move to the elevated position when an upward force is applied to it.

These and the other objects of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the annexed drawings, wherein:

FIG. l is a top plan View of a preferred embodiment of the invention with certain portions broken away for clarity of illustration;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 1, with the legs broken away and showing the top member in the elevated position;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational View of the structure shown in FIG. 1 with the top member in the elevated position;

FIG. 4 (which appears on sheet 2 of the drawings) is a fragmentary side elevational View similar to FIG. 2, but showing the vr'top member in the lowered position;

FIG. 5 (which appears on sheet 3 of the drawings) is a fragmentary rear elevational view similar to FIG. 3, but showing the top member in the lowered position;

FIG. 6 (which appears on sheet l of the drawings) is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line 6 6 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 (which appears on sheet 2 of the drawings) is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along line 7-7 on FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 (which appears on sheet 2 of the drawings) is an enlarged sectional View similar to FIG. 7, but showing the top member being elevated to release the locking means preparatory to lowering of the top member to the compact position;

FIG. 9 (which appears on sheet 2 of the drawings is a sectional View taken generally along line 9-9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. l0 (which appears on sheet 2 of the drawings) is a fragmentary front elevational view of the front stabilizing member; and

FIG. 1l (which appears on sheet 2 of the drawings) is an enlarged sectional View taken generally along line 11-11 of FIG. 2.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many dilerent forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail one specific embodiment, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplitication of the 3,245,366 Patented Apr. 12, 1966 principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated. The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, the illustrated convertible table embodiment 2G includes a generally square base frame 21 having an upright front rail 22, an upright rear rail 23, and upright side rails 24 and 25. A leg structure is provided for supporting base frame 21 on a door F, or the like, and in the illustrated embodiment, a downwardly extending leg 26 is provided at each corner of the base 21.

A table top member 27 is mounted on the base 21 for movement Ibetween a compact, lowered position (FIGS. 4 and 5) and an elevated position spaced thereabove (FIGS. 2 and 3). While the top member 27 has been illustrated as being square in plan view, it should be noted that a top section of any other shape would be suitable for the-purposes of the present invention. Linkage means indicated generally at 28 connects the top member 27 to the base 21, and the linkage means 23 is so constructed and arranged that the top member 27 remains substantially horizontal throughout its vertical movement between the compact and elevated positions.

The linkage means 28 includes a pair of cross bar linkages, indicated generally at 29, at opposite sides of the table, and the cross bar linkages are identical so that only one cross bar linkage will be described in detail, and common reference numerals will be used to indicate the same parts in each cross bar linkage. As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, the cross bar linkages include a rst link 39 pivotally mounted adjacent its upper end to a bracket 31 carried by the top member 27 adjacent the rear portion thereof. A slider 32, such as a headed pin or the like, is provided adjacent the lower end of link 30, and rides in a downwardly inclined elongated slot 34 in a 'bracket 33 that is secured adjacent the forward end of the side rail 25. The cross bar linkages further include a second link 35 which has its lower end pivoted to a bracket 36 on the side rail adjacent the rearward end thereof; a slider 37, in the form of a headed pin or the like, is positioned adjacent the upper end of link 35 and rides in an upwardly inclined elongated slot 39 in a bracket 3S that is fixed tO the undersurface of the top member 27 adjacent the forward portion thereof and directly above the bracket 33. Links and 35 are pivotally connected to one another, at approximately their midpoints, by a pin 40.

Stabilizing means in the form of a cross bar linkage is provided at the rear of the table; and as can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 5 the stabilizing means includes a iirst link 42 pivotally connected adjacent its upper end to a bracket 43 secured to the undersurface of the top member 27 adjacent one side thereof. The lower end of link 42 is provided with a slider 44, in the form of a headed pin which rides in an elongated horizontally disposed slot 45 in a bracket 46 that is secured to the back rail 23. The rear cross bar linkage includes a second link 47 pivotally connected adjacent its lower end to a bracket 48 that is secured to the `back rail member 23 adjacent the side rail 24. The upper end of link 47 is provided with a slider 49, in the form of a headed pin, which rides in an elongated horizontal slot 51 in a bracket 50 that is secured to the undersurface of top member 27 adjacent the forward portion thereof and directly above bracket 56. Links 42 and 47 are pivotally connected to one another at approximately their midpoints by a pivot pin 52.

stabilizing means is provided at the forward portion of the table, and includes a locking arm 54 (FIG. 10) which has its upper end frictionally pivoted on a bracket 55 that is secured to the top member 22. A bracket 56 is secured to the upright front rail 22 of base 21 in vertical alignment with bracket 55, and includes a detent in the form of a laterally extending pin 57. A notch 58 is provided near the upper end of the locking arm 54 to redi ceive pin `57 when the locking arm is in a vertically extending stabilizing position. As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, brackets 55 and 56 are offset somewhat to one side of the table (to the right as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 5) for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

All the brackets are preferably screwed to the base or the top of the table, as by screws 41 or the like.

Means are provided for moving the top member 27 from the compact, lowered position to the elevated position, and includes a pair of springs 60, each connected between spring studs 61 and 62 adjacent the lower portions of links 30 and 35, respectively. The function and operation of springs 60 will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the description of the operation of the convertible table.

When the top member 27 is in the elevated position, side link members 39 extend rearwardly and upwardly, and the slider 32 at the lower end thereof is received in a downwardly extending notch 34a provided at the left hand end (as viewed in FIG. 2) of the inclined slot 34. Side link members 35 extend forwardly and upwardly, and the slider 37 at the upper end thereof is yreceived in an upwardly extending notch 39a provided at the far left hand end (as viewed in FIG. 2) of inclined slot 39. Notches 34a and 39a provide a locking means for retaining the respective cross bar links 3i) and 35 in the elevated position. Notches 34a and 39a are positioned at substantially the same vertical elevation as the far right hand portions of the respective slots 34 and 39, so that the top member 27 will be positioned in a generally horizontal plane in both the elevated and the compact positions.

As best seen in FIG. 3, when the top member 27 is elevated, the rear link member 42 extends upwardly and toward the left with the slider 44 disposed at the far lett hand portion of horizontal slot 45', while the rear link member 47 extends upwardly and to the right with the slider 49 being disposed at the far left hand portion of slot 51. When the top member 27 is in elevated position, the locking bar 54 may be manually pivoted from a storage position nested within the frame 21 to a locking position where the pin 57 is `received in the notch 58. Locking bar 54 cooperates with the side cross bar linkages to positively support the top member 27, and thus it will be readily apparent that a sturdy and stable table construction is provided when the top member 27 is in the elevated position.

When it is desired to lower the top member 27 from its elevated position, the brace member 54 is rst disengaged from the pin 57 and swung to an out-of-the-way position against the top member 57. The frictional pivotal connection between the arm 54 and the bracket 55, which may be obtained in any known way, as by a friction washer (not shown) holds the arm against the underside of the top member; and the position of the bracket 55 is such that when the top member is lowered the brace rests in the base frame. After arm 54 is swung up, it is only necessary to lift the front portion 27a of the top member 27 slightly so as to pivot the top on the brackets 31 and disengage slider 37 from notch 39a, as seen in FIGS. 8 and 9. The slight lifting of the top member 27 will also move the slider 32 out of the notch 34a, and the sliders 32 and 37 will then be positioned for movement longitudinally along slots 34 and 39, respectively. Thus, after the sliders 32 and 37 have been disengaged from their respective notches 34a and 39a, it is only necessary to manually depress the top member 27 to lower the same from the elevated position to the collapsed compact position. From FIGS. 4 and 5 it is clear that in the compact position the links 30, 35, 42 and 47 are each nested within the base frame 21, and the top member 27 rests in a solid, stable position on the top surface of the base frame 21. In the compact position, also, it will be noted that the side and rear linkages are substantially horizontally disposed. Side links 30 extend slightly rearwardly and upwardly with the slider 32 thereon disposed at the right hand side of slot 34, while links 35 are disposed slightly forwardly and upwardly with the slider 37 thereon disposed at the far right hand end of slot 39. Springs 60 are disposed below the pivot 40 Awhen the top member 27 is in the compact position. However, since the side cross bar linkages are substantially horizontal, the effective lever arms of the springs 60 are so slight as to create an ineffective upward biasing force on the top member 27, it being understood that the top member is of sufficient weight to overcome this slight upwardly directed biasing force. The upwardly directed force on the top member 27 when it is in the compact position is so slight that even substantial jarrin-g of the base 21 will not cause the top member 27 to move to the elevated position. However, if it is desired to provide safety means, latch means (not shown) of any conventional type may be provided to positively retain the top member 27 in the lowered position. When it is desired to move the top member 27 from the compact position to the elevated position, it is necessary merely to apply a slight upward force to the top member, and as the top member is moved slightly vertically upward, the effective lever arms of the springs 60 increase and the springs 60 automatically move the top member 27 upwardly until the sliders 32 and 37 engage the ends of slots 34 and 39 respectively, whereupon they will snap into notches 34a and 39a, respectively.

As previously stated, the table top is preferably movable either to an elevated position so that the unit may serve as a dining table of 30 inch height, or to a lower elevated position in which the unit may serve as a card or game table of 28 inch height. For this purpose the slots 34 and 39 are provided, respectively, with intermediate detents that include recesses 34b and 3912, and cooperating bosses 34a` and 39C, respectively. When the table top is being moved to elevated position the pins 32 and 37 are received first in the intermediate recesses; and in that position the table height is 28 inches. To move the table top to full 30 inch height it is necessary only to lift the top, thus causing the pins to drop over the respective detent bosses 34e and 39C so that they may move on toward the notches 34a and 39a. When the table top is being lowered a reverse action is needed.

By reference to FIG. 9 it will be seen that the intermediate detent recess 39b has a nearly perpendicular rear face 39d and an inclined forward face 39e; and the recesses 34b are similarly shaped. Thus, the rear faces 39d, and the corresponding rear faces 34d of the recesses 34b (FIG. 2) hold the table top stably in intermediate position; and the table top must be lifted slightly, as previously described for movement from the notches 34a and 39a, to disengage the pins from the notches 39h and 34b for movement to compact position. In order that the table top member 27 will be horizontal in both its elevated position and in its lower elevated position the slots 34 and 39 have inclined portions 34] and 39jc that extend from the right hand ends (FIG. 2) to the intermediate recesses 34d and 39d; while from said recesses to the notches 34a and 39a the slots have horizontal portions 34g and 39g. Likewise, the locking arm 54 has an upper notch -recess 58a which is engaged with the pin 57 when the table top is in the lower elevated position.

Thus, it should be readily apparent that applicant has provided a relatively inexpensive, extremely simple convertible table having a top member which may be easily moved from a compact, low position to either of two elevated positions. Only a very slight amount of physical energy need be expended in moving the table top member between its compact and extended positions. When the top member is in the compact position, its supporting linkage is completely nested within the base frame of the table, so as to provide an attractive piece of furniture. In view of this, it should be apparent that each of the objects of the invention has been fully achieved.

The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, as modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A table comprising: a base lhaving a leg structure adapted to rest upon a Hoor; means on said base defining a downwardly inclined slot with a high end and a low end, a generally downwardly extending notch in the high end of said slot horizontally aligned with the low end of said slot, a detent recess in one side of said slot intermediate the ends thereof, and a boss projecting outwardly into said slot opposite from said detent recess; a top member movable between a compact position resting upon said base, a fully elevated position spaced from said base, and a partially elevated position between said compact position and said fully elevated position; means on said top member defining an upwardly inclined slot with a low end vertically aligned with the -high end of said downwardly inclined slot and a high end vertically aligned with the low end of said downwardly inclined slot, a generally upwardly extending notch in the low end of said upwardly inclined slot horizontally aligned with the high end thereof, a detent recess in one side of said upwardly inclined slot intermediate the ends thereof and in vertical alignment with the detent recess in the downwardly inclined slot, and a boss projecting outwardly into said upwardly inclined slot opposite from the detent recess therein; and linkage means connecting said top member to said base and including, a first link having an upper end pivotally mounted on said top member and a lower end having a pin slidably mounted in said downwardly inclined slot, and a second link having a lower end pivotally mounted on said base and having a pin slidably mounted in said upwardly inclined slot, said links being pivotally connected to one another between their ends, said pins on said first and second links engaging the notches in said slots to retain the top member in the fully elevated position and engaging the detent recesses -in said slots to retain the top member in the partially elevated position.

2. A table as defined in claim 1 which includes spring means connected between the links for moving the table top member to elevated position, said spring means constantly urging said top member toward said elevated position even when said top member is in said compact position, and said top member being sufficiently heavy to overcome the force of said spring means and hold said top member in said compact position.

3. A table as defined in claim 2 wherein each detent recess includes a face disposed generally perpendicularly to the length of its respective slot for holding the respective link pin :therein to positively retain the top member in the partially elevated position.

4. A table as defined in claim 1 in which a brace member is mounted for releasable connection between said top member and said base at the front of said base, and wherein detent means is provided for retaining said brace member in a position supporting said top member, said brace member including first means for engaging said detent means to hold said top member in partially elevated position, and second means for holding said top member in fully elevated position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3 17,468 5/ 1885 Morstatt 248-421 848,465 3/ 1907 Homeyer 108-145 1,627,559 5/ 1927 Hanl 248-277 2,070,468 2/ 1937 Chapman 10S-145 2,559,887 7/1951 Ludlow 10S-120 2,593,750 4/ 1952 Greitzer 297-338 3,174,443 3/ 1965 Egger 108-144 FOREIGN PATENTS 803,931 4/ 1951 Germany. 3 11,139 1/ 1956 Switzerland.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A TABLE COMPRISING: A BASE HAVING A LEG STRUCTURE ADAPTED TO REST UPON A FLOOR; MEANS ON SAID BASE DEFINING A DOWNWARDLY INCLINED SLOT WITH A HIGH END AND A LOW END, A GENERALLY DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING NOTCH IN THE HIGH END OF SAID SLOT HORIZONTALLY ALIGNED WITH THE LOW END OF SAID SLOT, A DETENT RECESS IN ONE SIDE OF SAID SLOT INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS THEREOF, AND A BOSS PROJECTING OUTWARDLY INTO SAID SLOT OPPOSITE FROM SAID DETENT RECESS; A TOP MEMBER MOVABLE BETWEEN A COMPACT POSITION RESTING UPON SAID BASE, A FULLY ELEVATED POSITION SPACED FROM SAID BASE, AND A PARTIALLY ELEVATED POSITION BETWEEN SAID COMPACT POSITION AND SAID FULLY ELEVATED POSITION; MEANS ON SAID TOP MEMBER DEFINING AN UPWARDLY INCLINED SLOT WITH A LOW END VERTICALLY ALIGNED WITH THE HIGH END OF SAID DOWNWARDLY INCLINED SLOT AND A HIGH END VERTICALLY ALIGNED WITH THE LOW END OF SAID DOWNWARDLY INCLINED SLOT, A GENERALLY UPWARDLY EXTENDING NOTCH IN THE LOW END OF SAID UPWARDLY INCLINED SLOT HORIZONTALLY ALIGNED WITH THE HIGH END THEREOF, A DETENT RECESS IN ONE SIDE OF SAID UPWARDLY INCLINED SLOT INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS THEREOF AND IN VERTICAL ALIGNMENT WITH THE DETENT RECESS IN THE DOWNWARDLY INCLINED SLOT, AND A BOSS PROJECTING OUTWARDLY INTO SAID UPWARDLY INCLINED SLOT OPPOSITE FROM THE DETENT RECESS THEREIN; AND LINKAGE MEANS CONNECTING SAID TOP MEMBER TO SAID BASE AND INCLUDING, A FIRST LINK HAVING AN UPPER END PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID TOP MEMBER AND A LOWER END HAVING A PIN SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID DOWNWARDLY INCLINED SLOT, AND A SECOND LINK HAVING A LOWER END PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID BASE AND HAVING A PIN SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID UPWARDLY INCLINED SLOT, SAID LINKS BEING PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO ONE ANOTHER BETWEEN THEIR ENDS, SAID PINS ON SAID FIRST AND SECOND LINKS ENGAGING THE NOTCHES IN SAID SLOTS TO RETAIN THE TOP MEMBER IN THE FULLY ELEVATED POSITION AND ENGAGING THE DETENT RECESSES IN SAID SLOTS TO RETAIN THE TOP MEMBER IN THE PARTIALLY ELEVATED POSITION. 